ALLEGED MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15183, 8 March 1923, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER.

CHARGE AGAINST THE COOPERS. FURTHER EVIDENCE GIVEN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The hearing of the charge of alleged murder against Daniel Richard Cooper and Martha Elizabeth Cooper, of Newlands near Johnsonville, was resumed yesterday, when Margaret Mary McLeod continued her evidence. She detailed the circumstances surrounding the birth of the child and deposed that Cooper averred that he had made arrangements for the baby, a girl, to be adopted by a couple at Palmerston North, and lhat she (the witness) was not to be cognisant of their identity. :The child, which was to be entirely •riven UP, was removed from her custody tin. October 20. Witness, however, had signed no adoption papers, though the matter had been mentioned. The birth was finally registered in the middle of January, and was arranged Willi the police. A formal demand for the child was made on each of the accused, but the child had not been produced. Cooper frequently discussed religion with witness, and appeared religious. William Welch said he was sent by McLeod to make arrangements to have the child adopted. He saw Cooper and came to an arrangement, Witness agreeing to pay £35. It was Cooper who told him the child was born and that he had made all arrangements for adoption. Witness did not sign any adoption paper. ,0- ~ -, Another witness gave evidence. of payments made to Cooper. The Government analyst said he examined the body and found no trace of poison. '•

I MEDICAL EVIDENCE.

WELLINGTON, Thursday

The Newlands murder trial was resumed before Mr E. Page this mornDr B. E. Wright, of Johnsonville, said Cooper told him in October last that many young women came to his house for confinement, and that there was money in it for anyone who would look after them. He saw Margaret McLeod at accused's house after the birth of the child, and also saw the child. The patient appeared to have been neglected. He also saw Miss Lester at accused's house. Cooper denied that he was procuring abortion, but stated that the women came from all parts of New Zealand to be cured of women's troubles, and that he had cured cases where doctors had failed. Witness deposed that he found the naked body of a baby in aj hole on Cooper's property. The body was covered with clay, and the kneebone of one leg was exposed through the flesh, which was in an advanced state of decomposition. The body weighed about four pounds, but the weight would decrease as decomposition advanced. The conclusion of the post mortem was that the child had lived three days at least, and probably | more. An opening in the abdomen indicated violent injury, either ante or post mortem. There was no definite indication as to the cause of death. Witness considered the child had lived about six days, and had been, buried about two months. Prosecutor: How could the injury have been caused to the abdomen and knee? i Witness: It is hard to say. Could they have been caused in digging Ihe body out? Oh, no; I don't think so. Dr Hector concurred with ihe evidence of the previous witness and expressed the opinion that, some artificial injury had been inflicted, cither before or after death.

Constable .Tarrold produced a spade found at Cooper's place, and described the. unearthing of the body. The marks found in one pari of the grave corresponded exactly with the point of the spade, and was apparently made in digging the hole.